The Wheels of Dreams Youth Foundation and the Wheels of Dreams Bus began as a community service idea of BMOA members John Hurt, Van Jakes, Floyd Sims, Leon Goodrum, Allen Stafford and Angie Townes in 2001. These BMOA members comprise the current Wheels of Dreams Youth Foundation Board. The dream of this small group of BMOA members inspired all BMOA Atlanta Region Member to vote unanimously to participate as motivational entrepreneur mentors and adopt the program as the primary BMOA sponsorship focus. Over the next two years the bus-retrofit, content, hardware, software, sponsorship and targeted locations of operations were completed with the help of many people volunteering their time and resources for the comprehensive youth program and the Wheels of Dreams mission of creating future business leaders.

Daniel K. (Danny) Smith, Ph.D. retired Director of Atlanta Public Schools Technology/Career Education Department, currently a consultant with APS;  is a Wheels of Dreams founding educational content developer and leads the partnership with the Focus on Student Success. Dr. Smith provided outstanding leadership for the program content design and approval as he worked with Atlanta Public Schools, Georgia State University, and After School All Stars educators during nine months of focus groups comprised education administration, teachers, guidance counselors, principals, students, parents, political and community business leaders on Wheels of Dreams Advisory committee.

Stephanie Campbell, formerly the Executive Director of the Inner City Games, now named After School All Stars provide initial youth program content counsel and enlisted the support of Georgia State University, Dr. Walter Thompson and the support of After School All Stars national chairman Arnold Schwarzenegger to assist in initial funding and program content design. In 2003 After School All Stars and Avant Foundation awarded six $1,000 college scholarships to Southside High School Seniors to kick off the first Wheels of Dreams program location.

The after the two year design and build process was completed the operational program of the Wheels of Dreams Bus began in February of 2003 with the Wheels of Dreams Kick-off Rally in the gym at Southside High School before 1,000 students with Arnold Schwarzenegger, actor, present Governor of California and National Chairman After-School All-Stars, Grammy Award winning hip-hop producer Dallas Austin, and national recording artist Monica, with all three delivering powerful messages of motivation and inspiration to create student "buzz" and excitement about the Wheels of Dreams program and college scholarship opportunities.

Since February of 2003 when the completed Wheels of Dreams Bus began its operational phase the program has helped more than 8,000 young people prepare for the world of work. BMOA Wheels of Dreams Entrepreneur Bus program has also helped students to complete job resumes and applications for current Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities, ARMHC, $1,500 college scholarships award to more than 60 White, Black, Latino and Asian students.

The Atlanta Public Schools with its focus on Student Success continues their strategic partnership with the Wheels of Dreams Youth Foundation under its Technology and Career Education Department. The Atlanta Public Schools provided guidance and direction since the planning stage began in 2001 and has made an on-going commitment to the Wheels of Dreams program.

Paula Billups, President of Educare Technologies a leading Atlanta based educational technology consulting firm provided the initial and ongoing customized and training solutions that address both traditional instructor-led training as well as multimedia-based learning on the Wheels of Dreams Bus.

Tracy Gray, President of Gray & Associates provided the initial design, development, partner relationships/fundraising, operational project management, advertising, public relations for the Wheels of Dreams Youth Foundation and the Wheels of Dreams Bus Program. Project Management of the Wheels of Dreams Youth Foundation and Wheels of Dreams Bus is currently being provided by Valerie C. Taylor-Perry, CEO/President, Taylormade Marketing, LLC. Taylormade Marketing also currently manages partner relationships/fundraising, advertising and public relations.

Principal funding sponsors are the BMOA, the Coca-Cola Company, ARMHC, and the Greater Atlanta McDonald's Operator Association, GAMOA. Additional program donations are received from WSB-TV, Georgia Power, Dr. Pepper, Gateway, Equifax, Wells Fargo and Turning Wheel RV Center. The Wheels of Dreams Celebrity Golf Classic is the principal yearly fundraising event.

High School students visit the Wheels Bus from a wide range of classes including; Entrepreneur Education, Vo-Tech, Business, Journalism, Electronics, English, Computer Skills, Public Health, Algebra, Trigonometry, Calculus, Economics, Environmental Science, College Transitions, Music, Art, World Literature, Chemistry, Pre-Engineering, Physics, Physical Education and Biography.

Working with guidance counselors, teachers, school administrators students are selected to take part in the 40 hours of computer based training, entrepreneurial awareness and mentoring provided by BMOA members and local community business leaders. Employers and business have also invited the Wheels of Dreams program to visit their locations for a one day session to several days of visits to provide their young adult team members personal money management and banking skills.
TOP

© BMOA